SEASIDE -- For the second time in less than a week, Humboldt State found a late equalizer to send the game into extra time, but came up short in a 2-3 loss to Cal State Monterey Bay. The Jacks rallied from a two-goal deficit, but couldn't carry the momentum over into a victory, allowing a penalty kick to be their downfall.

"It was a heart-breaker in the score, but not in the way we played," said head coach CJ Johnson. "The game was a lot of fun to be a part of. It was back-and-forth with plenty of action. I was really happy with our ball possession, especially on a field that is wide with really tall, uneven grass."

With the result, HSU drops to 1-8 on the season with only five games left in the 2012 season, while CSUMB improves to 7-5 overall.

Bre Taylor opened the game up with a shot on goal for the Jacks in the second minute of play, but it was the Otters who capitalized first. Lindsey Gatlin sent a cross into the Jacks' 18-yard box, finding Korie Soares' head to put CSUMB up 1-0.

"We were over-rotated to the left side and got beat down the line, allowing them to get to the endline and get a cross off in the very beginning of the game," said Johnson. "We were matched up one-on-one at the back post, but got out-beat. I felt we weren't as aggressive in the net in that opportunity and unfortunately they scored first."

The Jacks continued to create chances offensively, out-shooting the Otters in the first half, but goalkeeper Diana Zambrano kept her team in the game, picking up three of her eight saves in the first 45 minutes of action.

Both teams limited their opponents' shots to start the second half, with the Jacks getting their shot off first in the 61st minute from Lizzie Mitchell, but once again, Zambrano thwarted the attempt. CSUMB made its first opportunity count, and in the 77th minute, Kristen Womack put her team up 2-0 off an assist from Gabriella Bozzo.

"We had another little breakdown defensively on their second goal," said Johnson. "They had a nice combination in the center of the field and split our backs. Their player ran onto the past and finished it side-netting. It was a tough breakaway."

Determined to not be shut out, Humboldt State finally got a break in the 81st minute when an Otter took down a Lumberjack about 35 yards off the end line, close to the side line. Colette Behen stepped up to the free kick and sent in a shot despite the distance and lack of an angle, catching Zambrano off guard as the ball curled under the upper-right corner of the goal to cut Cal State Monterey Bay's lead in half.

"I don't think the keeper was expecting Colette to shoot it, I think she was anticipating a service," said Johnson. "It was a great, great goal."

As time wound down, the Jacks' sense of urgency picked up as they desperately hoped to find the equalizer. With a minute left, Humboldt State started a build-up down the left side of the field. Maddi Null took on the challenge of keeping the game alive and, with six seconds left in regulation, poked in Behen's cross after it bounced around in CSUMB's box to send the game into overtime.

"We had some good combination down the left flank to get into their zone," said Johnson. "We got to endline and got a good service into the box. There was a brief moment where I wasn't sure if they were going to get a clear off or if we would knock it in. We showed good, hard aggressive play in the box with Maddi selling out to get the ball on frame and tie it up."

After grabbing more shots than the Otters in both halves, the Jacks could not register a shot in either overtime period, allowing Cal State Monterey Bay to get four looks at the goal. HSU held off the attempts in the first overtime period, adding an additional 10 minutes of golden goal play to the clock. The Otters only needed one minute as Womack drew a foul inside the box to give her team a penalty kick. Andrea Davis finished the penalty kick with ease to end the game at 3-2 in favor of CSUMB.

"It was definitely a chess game," said Johnson. "We played three different formations to try to adjust, and it was positive. I thought we had better opportunities and possession was great. everyone contributed and got in there and really played well. I'm definitely happy with how we played. It was just an unfortunate outcome, but it was a good battle by both teams."

Humboldt State continues on the road as the Jacks head to Cal State East Bay, kicking off at 4:30 p.m. today.